Communication
"Truth is such a rare thing, it is delightful to tell
it." - Emily Dickinson
One of my readers explained, "Probably
my biggest feedback pet peeve is many people will not return phone calls
and emails. Since I'm in sales, I believe many people simply are afraid
that I will try to sell them versus just trying to obtain some feedback or even
closure if necessary."
I have heard from plenty of folks,
especially those who are not from this area, that we have a tendency to string
salespeople along for terribly long periods of time. We either, as my reader
suggests, avoid phone calls, or when caught, we respond that we need to check
with our management team, our boss, our spouse, etc. We have a difficult time
saying no, even when that's what we truly want to say.
Why? Why can't we be upfront? Why do
we avoid people we think want to sell us, rather than taking the call and
saying no, if that's what is required?
Two Reasons for Not Responding
I think part of it is that we hate
to hurt anyone's feelings and there are many of us who believe that if we say
no, it will be perceived as personal. I think part of it is that
we see ourselves as weak in sales
resistance.
In either case, those of us who
avoid these calls make life much more difficult for sales people than if we
would be honest about our lack of interest in their product or service. I am
not a pushy salesperson; I think people know that I'm not going to convince
them to purchase something they do not want. I would much rather people come
right out and tell me no, so I can move on to someone who will say yes.
Many telemarketers are required to
respond to several of your turn-downs before closing the call. If you've ever
worked an outbound telemarketing job, you know that a quick hang-up is much
better than having to get past the required number of turn-downs. For those of
you who receive phone solicitation calls, a simple "No, thank you"
and a quick hang-up will allow the caller to move on to the next number.
If Your Sales Resistance is Weak
For those of you with weak sales
resistance, before you take the call from a salesperson who you know is trying to close a sale, determine exactly why you are not
interested. Then take the call. Explain the exact reason(s) why you do not want
to purchase (it does not meet your needs, it is not something you want to spend
your limited resources on, etc.). If the salesperson proceeds past your
response with some offer that eliminates your reason for not purchasing, then you
may want to reconsider. A well-trained salesperson will not force you to purchase
anything you don't want, but he or she will try to meet any objections you may
have.
Here is the main point. That
salesperson may simply want information, or may need to hear you say
definitively whether or not you are interested. You will save the salesperson
and yourself a ton of time if you just take the call.
If you have particular communication problems you would like me to discuss in a future issue of Crystallizations, please email me at crystal@crystaldarby.com.
|
Communication Coaching
I am excited to announce that I am now offering one-on-one, individualized Communication Coaching. If you have problems with grammar or sentence structure and need help, call me. If you need help putting together and rehearsing a presentation and getting over your nerves, contact me. If you need to learn how to deal with difficult people at work or at home, schedule a time. If you need help crafting your sales message, let me know. If you have a team that needs to break through barriers or mesh more effectively, I'm also here to help. No matter what the communication problem, if you need to make real progress, call 210-863-2250 or email crystal@crystaldarby.com for a free
initial consultation and assessment. |
Articles
I've started posting articles at Associated Content.
I hope you'll take a few minutes and visit.
If you have articles, company bios, newsletters, or website text that you need written, call for a free consultation and estimate. Call 210-863-2250 or email crystal@crystaldarby.com.
|
|
Crystal Communications
6000 Trone Trail
San Antonio, Texas 78238
210-863-2250
Follow me on Twitter.
|
|
|
Puzzle
Last month, I asked
you to find a number less than 100 that is increased by one-fifth of its value when its digits are reversed. The answer was 45. I had a ton of correct answers, but the first was from Claudia Pena from the Office of the City Auditor.
This month, what are the next four letters in this series.
Y Y H L Y E Y T ...
The first correct entry will win a $25 gift certificate from Nicavid's Bakery and Cafe.
|
|
